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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Starting Y11 support thread

999 replies

AtiaoftheJulii · 05/09/2016 13:02

(Yeah, I'm procrastinating ....)

For all those with one or two (or more?) offspring going into year 11: controlled assessments, coursework, practicals, performances, GCSE revision (or not ...), being guinea pigs for the Maths and English 1to9 exams, choosing what to do next - schools/sixth form colleges/college/apprenticeships/BTECs/A levels and more - and generally being 15!

It's a tough year academically - in some ways harder than sixth form I think because there are just so many subjects and exams - and a tough year emotionally - not always mature enough to organise themselves, too old to have organisation imposed upon them!

Ds still has an MFL CA, a couple of science practical CAs, and two assessed drama performances, plus coursework to do for History I think. I can't see there's going to be much let up and he's definitely feeling the pressure Sad I think he'll probably end up staying at his school for 6th form (he's very mathsy and his school is a good fit) but we may well look at a couple of sixth form colleges as he's already talking about whether he can go somewhere that won't feel quite so pushy.

OP posts:
Original poster
AtiaoftheJulii · 06/09/2016 12:06

Those requirements are what are needed really to get decent grades at A level.

pointy, I was just looking above to see who/what noble was asking about, and read She didn't do Statistics last year, did something similar but for mathsy people and got an A - can I be nosy and ask to what you're referring? Grin

OP posts:
Fleurdelise · 06/09/2016 12:09

He's predicted A* in biology and As in physics and chemistry the trouble is he doesn't know what he wants to do for the A levels so therefore he won't necessarily put the work required to achieve those. It is going to be interesting....

BertrandRussell · 06/09/2016 12:11

I would be wary of starting an A level from a C at GCSE.

But lots of people do well from Bs.

And I do hope there's space on this thread for people whose children are not aiming at all A*-A at GCSE and A Level?

Fleurdelise · 06/09/2016 12:18

Bertrand DS is definitely not aiming for As and A*. I am hoping for them but my hopes don't really tie up with what DS is willing to do in order to achieve them.

Original poster
AtiaoftheJulii · 06/09/2016 12:32

I've known an unremarkable A at GCSE maths candidate really blossom in sixth form and get an A* for A level maths (and an A for AS FM). And a 390something out of 400 ums for GCSE hit their limit and 'only' get an A for A level maths. But a B at maths GCSE (so, a 6 for our lot perhaps?) isn't correlated with very good results at A level.

My ds's school also ask for an A for Chemistry but not the other two sciences. And they now seem to want an 8 in maths.

Hopefully there's space for all and any y11 parents here!

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Laniakea · 06/09/2016 12:36

"And they now seem to want an 8 in maths."

Is that to do maths/further maths or for the sciences too?

DD's recommend an A for science A levels, though the will let you do them with a B as long as you get a good enough maths GCSE. I don't actually know what they ask for if you want to do maths A level.

bigTillyMint · 06/09/2016 12:50

I agree, students can do really well from B grades at GCSE, depending on what subjects they choose for A'level. Or they could do really well with a BTEC - it's a question of choosing something that fits their style of learning best.

Here it is looking at sixth forms in Sep/Oct and applying, then interviews/places offered after Christmas IIRC.

Fleurdelise · 06/09/2016 13:03

Our school website specifies that some students may be allowed to choose a subject even if the result is lower than expected (so B instead of the required A or C instead of the required B) but is it the head of the subject who will make the decision based on the interview with the student. Hopefully he'll know what he wants to do by January, I doubt it though.

Do all your DCs know what A levels they want to do already? How did they decide?

Laniakea · 06/09/2016 13:15

dd wants to do physics/chemistry/biology A levels & geography AS - though it is still a bit up in the air whether or not the school will do stand alone ASs next year. She wants to do earth/marine sciences at university ... all her plans are dependent on really knuckling down this year. If she cocks up maths then she'll have to rethink..

homebythesea · 06/09/2016 13:18

atia I totally agree that some do "blossom" in 6th form - my DS got distinctly underwhelming GCSE results but got AAB in A levels- if you had told me that the day after the GCSE results came out I sayid have laughed you out of town 😀. Whether the GCSE's were a wake up call or there was just some maturing to do (or all of the above) it gives some hope. No A's likely here, but do think that for some subjects C at GCSE will make A levels very difficult. The other factor is how to ascertain whether a new A level subject is achievable (2 out of 3 for my DD will be new)

A question now- are your likely 6th forms reverting to 3 subjects on a linear 2 year course, or are some sticking with 4 to start, AS exams and dropping one for the second year? Where I am it seems to be the former despite some saying they would stick to 4 subjects when we first started researching.

hanahsaunt · 06/09/2016 13:18

Dipping in - ds1 off to Y11 tomorrow. Did French this year (still don't know the result as we were away) so he's had a taster. He does well across the board with apparently no work. Not sure when that's going to come crashing down around his ears... He's in more of a tizz about what to choose for Y12 than anything else with absolutely no idea about what he's like to do in life. (He's still in a tizz re brexit as he's really gifted linguistically and had hoped to study whatever in Europe; don't get me started).

bigTillyMint · 06/09/2016 13:18

DS has no idea what he wants to do. Other than become a professional footballer, of courseGrin

He probably could go the Football Academy route for Sixth Form, but I'm not sure what kind of jobs that might lead to if he doesn't hit the big time.

I am not sure that he would want to do straight A'levels even if he gets the B's needed.

BertrandRussell · 06/09/2016 13:19

Ds wants to do English, History, Philosophy and Theatre Studies if he's allowed - the first 3 if he isn't.

He's said that since year 8- I wonder if he'll stick to it.

Laniakea · 06/09/2016 13:21

homebythesea - they haven't decided yet. Initially they were planning on dropping down to three A levels only, but recently they've suggested they will offer an additional AS level.

bigTillyMint · 06/09/2016 13:22

home, no idea what will happen with the 4 or 3 A'levels. DD has done 4 AS's (still hasn't decided which to drop) but a friends DD's school only offered 3. I guess they will know at the open daysConfused

I think 3 would be plenty for DS, if he was to go down that route!

Laniakea · 06/09/2016 13:26

dd really wants to do geography because they have an amazing trip in year 12 Grin - the course she really wants asks for three sciences or two plus maths (there is no way she's consider doing maths) so as things stand now she'd just carry on with the sciences.

Fleurdelise · 06/09/2016 13:28

bigTillyMint on a par DS wants to win the lottery. Not sure he has a plan B.

From DS's school website there is the option of 4 A levels for a very few gifted students, 3 A levels for the majority and a combination of Btec courses and A levels available. No mention of AS.

pointythings · 06/09/2016 13:32

atia I wish I knew but I still haven't seen the bloody results slip. I know the statistics group did quite a lot of coursework whereas DD just sat 3 exam papers.

We are worried about Brexit too, because we are EU immigrants. At least DD will still be able to study anywhere in Europe because like Hell are we giving up their Dutch passports. I may have to under Dutch law but the DDs don't.

bigTillyMint · 06/09/2016 14:06

FleurGrin

FBF, he is a good footballer, so it is a bit more of a possibility than winning the lottery!

Fleurdelise · 06/09/2016 16:20

So more chances for your DS then bigTillyMint!

Well DS had a "great" first day, resulting into detention for IT for not submitting his homework. Well that's a good start...

Laniakea · 06/09/2016 16:59

they were yelled at in assembly & told that on the basis of their SATS their year have an expected 5A*-C of 82% but on the basis of their year 11 mocks only 63% of them will manage it. The school are VERY disappointed in them apparently.

Still her new English teacher is very good (a slightly sinister looking David Walliams!), she found her PE kit and has all the dates for her French CAs (November/January/March). No homework but she's promised to do some maths & French vocab this evening.

QueenofQuirkiness · 06/09/2016 17:16

DD starts tomorrow. Last year she did 2 French CA's, got an A* in writing but had a total meltdown and full blown panic attack during the speaking Sad she ended up with a C and was gutted, so she's retaking it this year as you get to do 3 speaking assessments and submit two. I hope she won't succumb to pressure this year

bigTillyMint · 06/09/2016 17:23

Fleur, DS is dropping ITGrin

Laniakea, that sounds like a crap assembly - hardly motivating, is it? And not all of them will be not working hard enough IYKWIM.

I think DS has done all but one French CA (his teacher got ahead last year, thank god!) Perhaps I can get him on the Memrise website again - MFL is not his strong point!

RalphSteadmansEye · 06/09/2016 18:31

Laniakea - that's exactly the sort of thing that gets my goat. Who on earth is that kind of assembly meant to benefit? Those that don't care still won't. Those that do will put themselves under yet more pressure. Grrrr.

Laniakea · 06/09/2016 18:36

it is completely counter-productive! And anyone who is dossing a bit isn't going to suddenly up their game for the benefit of the school which seemed to be the point she was making.

Dd has only done one CA for French so far - it's probably her weakest subject, she'll be relieved when she never has to do it again.